Brick-handling machine



Jan. 2, 1923.

A I 1,440,769. J- L. COTE.

BRiCK HANDLING MACHINE.

- FILED DEC.4| I919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I INVENTOR 'Jbsep/z L. Uz'ii 835%; T W

An'onu In! J Jan. 2, 1923. A 1,440,769.

' J. L. COTE.

BRICK HANDLING. MACHINE. FILED no.4. 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

- INVENTR J'osep/zLQQ'i QMM f" "a T in):

JOSEPH L. corn, or OAKLAND, oamroanm.

BRICK-HANDLING MACHINE.

Application filed December 4, 1919. Serial No. 342,367.

o tes, residing at the count of 'ilameda and 'it'ornia, have invented new and r vements in Brick-Handling hila- This invention relates to a brick handling machine.

it is the principal obyeotoi the present invention to provide machine to which bricks may be continuously delivered, and

by which they may be automatically trans- 'rom the delivery meansto be arnd in courses upon a flat car or a storplatform.

i lie present invention contemplates the use oi. a continuously operating conveyor upon which bricks are carried and from which they be withdravm in quanti ties to there-alter carried to a loading platform and then arranged in courses thereupon to form stacks, or to load a flat car when transportation is contemplated.

Furthermore. the present invention contemplates a mechanism by which the bricks may l utomaticaliy grasped and will, by their n movement. be locked in po ition prior to the transfer to the platform;

The in ention is illustrated by way 01"v example in. the accompanying drawings, in which l v a view in side elevation, illuscompletely assembled machine. 7 view p illustratingthe with parts broken away for the suite o1. convenience.

In the drawings; 10 indi ates a vertical shaft, mounted with its lower end resting a combined radial and thrust bearing 11, .lld its upper end is housed within a radial hearing: 12.

12-3. by which it is rotated. This pinned upon the shaft and is in'mesh aith a bevel pinion l4, carried by a. horizontally eaten i countershat't The countershart is a journal block pulley 17 from ply.

The shaft 10 is provided at its upper end with a spider 18 which is more clearly shown in Fig. 2 having' a plurality of radial arms 19 for a purpose which will be hereinafter set forth. All of the arms of the spi- 16 and maybe driven by a any suitable source of supwhich the tolli'iwin is a specin- This shaft is provided with a.

rotatally supported within der arerormed with downwardly extending hangers 20 which are adapted to engage movable carrying units 21 at certain intervals in the rotation of the spider and its shaft. l' i rls shownin Fig. 2 of the drawings, four of the carrier units are provided although it will be understoodzthat various other arrangements might made to permit the use of more of these arms in the event it is found advisable. The carrier units 21 are ted to rotate concentrically with the vertical shaft 10 and Y 22 which is secured around the vertical shaft and acts as afixed circular guide for the units. This drum is formed witha oylinorical base portion 23, circumscribed by two bands 2-iand 25. These bands are of larger diameter than the outside diameter of the base portion and their marginal edges are spaced from each otherto form an annular and horizontally extending slot 26.

It will thus be seen that in connection with the annular slot 26 upper and lower annular recesses will also be provided and these are fitted toreceive T-shaped guide brackets 27. The guidebrackets 2'? are formed integral with vertical bearingmembers 28. These bearing members are preferably recta 11:11? in section and have a rectangular interior opening, into which the, slide shank- 29 of traveling trames 30 may reciprocate. The frames 30, as before stated, extend radially in relation to the. shaft 10 and may be intermittently engaged by the downwardly extending hangers 20 of the spider 18. These. frames are fitted with a )lural-it of brick-clam vine" arms3l which are vertically reciprocable in the frame and are arranged in, parallelrelation to each other. as clearly shown in 1 ot the drawings.

The arms each fitted with a square shouldered notch into which a support ing pawl 32-3 normally projects. This pawl suspends the arm above the line of the top of the bricks, as indicated inllig. 1. That is to say, pawls 83 are provided for each of the'arms, save the innermost arm which is constantly supported in its lowermost position in register with the bricks 3d, and which arm is'not vertically reciprocal. Each of the arms is fitted with a combined trip and clamping lever 35. This lever in each instance is pivoted, midway the length of the arm upon a pin '36'an'd has its upper end in relation to a drumsliding bar 41 is provided. This fitted with a finger 3'? adapted to strike the lower portion of a pawl 33 and to move it upwardly to release the arm with which it is engaged and to permit that arm to tall. Each of the levers 35 is "formed. with a lug 38 which. extends through a projection in a clamping pad 39, at the lower end of the arm. It will also be noted that all ot the levers 35, save the innermost one in each set, are provided with clamping pads :0 which will engage the forward side of a brick and cooperate with the pad 39 in holding the brick in a manner which will be hereinafter set forth.

' Upon each of the frames 30 a horizontally bar is fitted with longitudinally extending slotted openings through which supporting pins d2 are positioned. A tension spring is secured to a pin is, on the rear end of each oi": the bars 4:]. and by its :iorward end to a pin on the frame 30. This tends to force the bar 41 outwardly. However, this movement is prevented by a locking pawl 46 which engages a recess M, at the outer end O'i each of the bars, and which pawl is adapted to be elevated by a cam face 48 carried upon the forward side of the outermost arm 31.

The frames 80, as before stated, extend horizontally and at right angles to the Vertical shank portions 29 which are formed integrally therewith and which may reciprocate through the bearing brackets 28. The frames 30 are :iurther supported by a track 4:9 which circumscribes the central structure of the brick loading machine and which has a lower runway A and an upper runway B, both of which runways are continuous and form an annular track for supporting the frames 30 in their lowermost positions, represented when a loading operation is being made, and in their uppermost positions while traveling to and from the point of unloading.

In order to cause the loading units 21 to move, it is necessary tor each of the arms 31 of one unit to have been encountered by a brick carried along the conveyer 50. W hen this is done, as before stated, the bar ll will be released under the tension of spring 43 and will swing a bell-crank in the direction of the arrow a. The upper end of this bell-crank projects into a seat on the end of the bar ll and thus receives motion therea from. The lower arm of the bell-crank will thus swing upwardly and beneath. the supporting drum 23 to encounter one of a series of lugs 52. These lugs are formed integral withthe drum and thus will permit the unit 21, which has been loaded, to be locked in relation to the drum 23 and to he carried around to a point of unloading, which we may assume in the present instance is at right angles to the point of loading. As the unit is carried in this direction it will pass vertically ex ending worm 5e,

nae-owes along the lower horizontal portion}; of the runway until it reaches the point of unloading. At this point a worm gear 53, rotatably supported upon the unit, will engage a I carried upon the :trame a. ucture of the track 49,, and will thus be elevated along the vertical portion {l of the track until the bottom oi the frame 30 will register with the bearing surface of the track at At the instant the unit is elevatec its tran'ie will be encountered by one of t 20 and be carried along subsequent operations.

It will be understood that at the instant prior to the registry gears 53 and 54 the bricks will be released will be deposited in course upon the loading platl orn'i. it is further to be understood that this loading platform is provided with a suitable mechanism which may be lowered one course of bricks at a time and shifted so that the briclrs may be piled, if desired. The release oi the bricls is effected by the frame 30 striking the vertical portion C of the track l9, while the drum 23 continues to rotate. The lugs 53 of the drum are provided with tapered faces 55 so that as the lug continues to move the horizontal leg of the bell-crank 51 will he forced downwardly to positively draw the bar ll inwardly. The earns 56 which are secured to or formed integral with the bar all will then be released from pressure against the upper ends oi resilient operating levers 5'? by which the pads 420 had been forced rearwardly to cooperate with the 39 in clamping the brick and will permit springs 58 to force the ion wardly to their normal position :tor receiving other bricks.

After the bricks have thus been released all of the arms 3']. will be free to reciprocate and will be dependent from pins 59 by the track for which they are being supported :trom the tops of the frames An inclined runway 60 is provided, along which the bottoms oi the arms 30 may pass and which wi l act to elevate them until the pawls 31 all into the recesses and support them, as indicated at the outer end. of the arm 30 in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the worm he is mounted upon a rotating shaft 62.. fitted with a pinion 63 at its lower end and that this pinion is in mesh with large driving gear S l rotating with the drum In the operation of the present invention it will be assumed that the arms 31!. upon a frame positioned at X as indicated in Fig. 2 will all be supported in their uppermost position save the innermost arm which always dowm and held by means of the pawls 83. erident that the pad 39 oi the innermost arm will be in the path of travel of the bricks Set. and that as a brick is carried by the conne downwardly extending hangers that these arms will be it will be veyer belt i; will strike this pad d move rearwardly. upper end of the lever to stri e the lower swinging end oi. oawl 353 upon the nest arm and swine it out that this n ma, fall in front of is; brick and in position o be struck -iie second brick. This will result in causwing rearvardly to 1d arm 12 i the extension 08 or love This mov e 'lient arms 53? and and 1' the hrici Due e that the arms 53" are resilient, it "rill be evident that variations in the thic ness of the bricks will be accon. no tlated and that all of the bricks will be positively clamped. At the sameti cthe bar 41 moves outwardly it will swing the bell-crank lever 51 so that its horizontal is in engagement wi he tapered front face of the lug upon drum 22 The drum and arm will then more along a horizontal portion A of the track until it encounters the track pail; C, when it will act, before stated, t i 'rely force the bar 411 rearwardly, release the bricks and ele the frame to the level oi the track portlon This frame will then be driven by the spider l8 and will be carried around so that the arms will be elevated on the runway 60 and thereafter conveyed to the lower portion A of the track where the frame will. move beneath the reach of the hanger 20 to remain stationary until the carrying unit has been 2" ed with bricks.

will thus be seen that the mechanism here di closed embodies the use of positively and intermittently driven carrier to which bricks may be successively delivered and automatically picked up and thereafter placed in a systematic row and along a course of bricks in a pile to again return for receiving more bricks.

ll hile l have shown the preferred form of our invention as now known to me, I wish various changes in the ii: understood that cons 'uc'tion, nt and combination at s may be n i a by those skilled in the art without depar ing from: the spirit of in r'GlltlOl] as claimed.

it C0113 rality or multiple brick carrying units, to vhich br oks may be successively delivered,

i adapted to be intermittently driven by said 3&

driving element, automatic means for clampsaid bricks in said unit and placing the driving engagement with the driving when the unit has been filled to its ing has been reached.

hine comprising I brick conveying units move in a circniar course of means for loading each unit suea oniatic means ior clampingthe e unitbeing loaded. when its een reached, means for adloading to unloadposition, i'iieai'is for automatically and simultaneously releasing all the tricks coned by the conveying units when they reach the point of unloadi and means for vertically moving the unit 21L- point when the bricks have been released to elilect an unloading operation.

a, ji brick handling machine comprising a constantly rotating'driving element, a plurality of brick-carrying units adapted to be i terniitten driven thereby, :ieans whereby a unit will be placed in dri ing engagement with the driving element, when it has been tilled to its capacity, and means for relea the bricks within said unit and simulh neously disengaging it From the drivelement. f

[1i brick handling machine comprising central, vertical shaft, a rotary drum caried thereby, a plurality of radiall disposed brick-carrying units movable in relation to spider and carried therealong.

5. In a brick handling machine, a carrying unit comprising a plurali y of downwardly extending arms, the innermost of which is normally supported in a plane below the reii'iaining arms and against which a brick be delivered, trip means carried by the innermost of said arms and adapted to ei'lect, the release and lowering of be next succeeding arm, and means whereby the de livery of a brick against the next to the outermost arm will cause all of the bricks to be locked in relation to the various arms.

6. In a brick handling machine, a carry ing unit comprising a horizontally extendthe' unloading ins i he l, a plurality of ending rnas, the lllIlGllHOSi oi l maining of which slidable and normally led at bottom portion of the or upon operated eaiiist for role...

n, clamping pads ers, and means a ainst arm presence of ing the he carried by whereby the p s-c o cooperate wltil 1131 1 to a handling a ca r i 11;; a horizontally Xtending L, a plurality 't yertically e2;- he innermost oi which is stationary and t e remaining; arms of which are vertically slidable and normally held a level above the bottom portion of the stationary arm, a trip member upon each of said arms adapted to be operated by the presence oi? a brick thereagainst for releasing the next succeeding arm, clamping pads carried by said trip members, means whereby the presence of a brick against the next to the outermost arm will cause all of said clamping pads to cooperate with the pad or the adjacent arm to clamp a brick in pot'ranie lien. tending arr sition, and yieldable means for accommodating various sized bricks between the clamping pads and the arms.

8. ln a brick handling machine, a carrying unit comprising a horizontally extend-- ing frame member, a plurality oi vertically extending arms, stationary and the remaining arms of which are vertically slidable and normally held at level above the bottom portion of the stationary arm, a trip member upon each of said arms adapted to be operated by the presence of a brick thereagainst for releasing; the next succeeding arm, clamping pads carried by said trip members, means whereby the presence of a brickv against the next to the outermost arm will cause all of said clamping pads to cooperate with the pad of the adjacent arm to clamp a brick in position, yieldable means for accommodating various sized bricks between the clamping pads and the arms, conveying means, and means whereby the release oi the outermost arm will. cause the carrying unit to become inovably connected with said conveying means.

9. In a brie; handling machine, a carrying unit comprising a horizontally extending frame member, a plurality 0:? vertically extending arms, the innermost of which is the innermost of which is.

1 t remaining arms of which l mally held at e revel above ii stem portion oi the stat onary arm, p member upon each of sa d arms adapted to be operated by the .i thereagrainst for releasn, clamping pads ers, means whereagainst the neat cause all of said e arms, conveying means release; th

and be cause voted tween at oi the COED J means.

l0. ln a brick andling machine, a carr unit com i slre; a horizontally extendframe .ioer, a plurality of vertically riding s, the innermost of which is stationary and the remaining arms of which are vertically slidable and normally held at level above the bottom portion of the stationary arm, a trip member upon each of said arns adapt d to be operated by the presence of a br ti ereagainst tor releas ing the next succeeding arm, clamping pads ed by said trip members, means whereby the presence of a brick against the next to the outermost arm will. cause all or" said. clamping pads to cooperate with the pad the adjacent arm to cl; .p a brick in position, yieldable means for accommodating various sized bricks betw n the clamping pads and the arms, conve means, means whereby the release oi. the outermost arm will cause the carryin5gunit to become movably connected with said conveying means, means whereby the carrying; unit may be caused to release the bricks and to be elevated to withdraw the arms from therebetween at a predet rmined point in the path of the conveying means, and means tor restoring the arms of the carrying unitto Josarn L. corn,

Witnesses FRED KING, Gnonon ll. SMITH.

n etermined pointin the path 

